Dragon and Tiger characters connected — signifying the union of heaven and earth= the state of enlightenment.
Seeing Zen
For a feast of zenga, please check out Seeing Zen by John Stevens on Amazon! A ground breaking and astounding book. View the Seeing Zen flyer
Bodhidharma by Hakuin
Another great Bodhidharma by Hakuin
Ikkyu – Self-Appraisal
Ikkyu – Self-Appraisal
Poem
Rinzai’s descendants do not know Zen.
In front of Crazy Cloud, who dares to explain Zen?
For thirty years, on my shoulders I have carried
The weight of Shogen’s Red Thread Zen.
Accompanying Calligraphy
I am teaching you the gateway to essential Zen. Zen is endlessly discussed with empty phrases and pretentious words; all that effort goes on and on missing the mark…
Former Abbot of Murasakino Daitoku Zen Temple, Jun Ikkyu, world’s number one venerable priest.
Ikkyu
The One True Taste of Tea – Rikyu
THE ONE TRUE TASTE OF TEA
I share a sip of tea together with the spring wind and 10,000 peaks;
Then with my arms folded in my sleeves I contently stroll along the riverbank.
The One True Taste of Tea – Sen No Rikyu
Rikyu
Sen No Rikyu (1522 – April 21, 1591) based his calligraphy on the original two verses from a poem by Kaiseki (Chieh-shih), a Zen Master of the late Sung. The complete original poem goes:
Shinran
Namu Amida Butsu
Namo Amida Butso, by Shinran, (May 21, 1173 – January 16, 1263)
Founder of Jōdo Shinshū Pure Land sect of Buddhism.
Tea Bowl by Onisaburo
God and man in harmony
With boundless compassion
Form an irresistible power.
Composed by Oni
Chawan by Onisaburo
Onisaburo Deguchi, 1871-1948, teacher of aikido founder, Morihei Ueshiba.
Chawan by Onisaburo
Onisaburo Chawan Hakogaki
Sesshu – Two Geese
An extraordinary pair of geese by master artist Sesshū Tōyō, (1420 – 1506)
Geese – by Sesshu
One of the Pair of Geese – Sesshu
Two Geese by Sesshu
Six Persimmons (Copy) by Kobori Nanrei
I studied with Kobori Nanrei at Daitoku-ji when I lived in Kyoto. His delightful copy of 6 persimmons by Mu Ch’i is wonderful, a faithful reproduction both physically and spiritually.
Six Persimmons by Kobori Nanrei
Kannon by Junkyo
Kannon by Junkyo, the 20th century nun who had her arms sliced off by a mad man when she was 17 . The inscription is one of our favorites, “Every day is a good day.” Signed, “Painted without hands by Junkyo.”
Kannon by Junkyo
Kannon by Junkyo
And here’s a portrait of the artist:
The Artist, Junkyo
Jiun – Every Day is a Good Day
Jiun Sonja (1718-1804): “Every Day is a Good Day” is from the famous Zen Koan by 10th century master Unmon. Unmon said: “I do not ask you about fifteen days ago. But what about fifteen days hence? Come, say a word about this!” Since none of the monks answered, he answered for them: “Every day is a good day.”
Jiun – Every Day is a Good Day
Onisaburo – Kannon
Kannon by Onisaburo
Kannon by Onisaburo
Takuan
Within the body, many mysteries
or
Within one’s body there are profound secrets
Takuan
Kannon by Genro
Kannon by Genro
Ikkyu
This monk has passed through the narrowest mountain paths to reach the northernmost seas,
and also has the experience of crawling through the lowest valleys.
If you want to find a safe place to pass your life,
Sit on the top shelf like a puppet!
Ikkyu
Daruma by Fugai
Daruma by Fugai
The face of this one reminds me most of the face of the Bodhidharma imprinted on the rock from his cave in Shao-lin.
Daruma by Fugai
Kannon by Hakuin
Kannon (Kuan Yin) by Hakuin
Bodhidharma by Hakuin
Bodhidharma by Hakuin
“I’ve got my eye on you…”
Wild Duck by Li Shan
My painting finally came. It is wild…….a duck smashing into water his feathers flying , to the right, to the left….every which way. If you look at it quickly , you miss it……perfect composition, the still point (his eye) in the midst of flurry. It is totally alive.
Wild Duck by Li Shan
One thing is for sure, the painter Li Shan was a genius. The painting itself is about 2 feet high by 2 1/2 feet long. It’s a monumental piece….needs lots of empty space around it.
Ichi by Ishikawa Jozan
Ichi (One) by Ishikawa Jozan
Ishikawa Jozan, best known for the creation of the beautiful garden villa of Shisendo outside Kyoto, was also a master of calligraphy, among other things. He is mentioned in Hakuin’s autobiography Wild Ivy as a student of the Taoist who taught Hakuin a powerful method of healing.
One by Ishikawa Jozan
Sawaki Kodo
Who says my mind is like the autumn moon?
Enso by Sawaki Kodo
Notes: This Sawaki Kodo Enso is masterful. I opened it and put it on the wall……welcoming its spirit with incense and fell right into meditation. It’s one of those pieces having seen, you feel happy you are collecting pieces. A real zen masterpiece…
Zenga: Living Zen
Not One Thing – Soen
“NOT ONE THING: ENSO”
Master Nakagawa Soen
Enso. A circle reveals its own meaning…
Perfection, completeness, a roundness of form.
It also delineates inside from outside, and binds space
within its boundaries, where opposites can play
…and life can find a meaning.
Zen Art Experience 